Koch Industries

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Page - March 29, 2010

"My joke is that we're the biggest company you've never heard of." – David Koch

Koch Industries is the second largest private corporation in the country with $115 billion in annual revenue. Koch is a top lobbying spender, a massive funding source to climate-denial front-groups, and major force fighting against clean energy policies. The company is a notable polluter.

Brothers Charles Koch and David Koch own and control Koch Industries. The Koch brothers coordinate the spending of their personal fortunes with other business executives to bankroll political operations implemented by a wide web of organizations, most of which are affiliated through the State Policy Network.

Koch Industries Facts

Koch Industries is owned and controlled by brothers Charles G. Koch and David H. Koch. According to 2014 Forbes rankings, the Koch brothers are tied for sixth richest person in the world at $41.3 billion each--more than Michael Bloomberg, George Soros and Jim and Alice Walton of Wal-Mart fortune. Bloomberg estimates of each brothers' wealth currently exceed $52 billion.

Koch Industries has many subsidiaries, operating in oil and gas exploration, pipelines and refining, in chemical and fertilizer production, in trading both physical fossil fuel products as well as commodity futures and derivatives, cattle and game ranching, forestry and timber products, electronics, industrial glass and various consumer products. Koch Companies Public Sector oversees Koch's lobbying, political activities and aggressive public relations.

Koch Industries' environmental record includes a $30 million federal fine for Koch's role in 300 oil spills that resulted in more than three million gallons of crude oil into waterways, a $1.7 million federal penalty in 2009 for environmental violations at facilities in seven states, and ongoing pollution from Koch operations around the country.

In 2013, political groups controlled by the Kochs were fined $1.5 million by the state of California for illegally funneling money to support ballot initiative campaigns without proper disclosure. This scandal revealed a vast network created and run by Koch Industries executives and lawyers that is used to influence political issues and elections.

Major Oil & Gas Political Influence

Koch Industries and top employees have spent over $22 million on contributions to federal political candidates since 1999, more than any other oil-and-gas sector PAC. In any given year, 84% to 98% of this money went to Republican candidates.

Koch's Funding to Deny Climate Change Solutions

Since 1997, Koch foundations have provided over $70 million in funding to climate denial groups; ExxonMobil provided about $27 million to climate denial organizations over the same period. Through "Dark Money ATMs" like DonorsTrust, it is likely that the Kochs have obscured millions of additional dollars to the same organizations.

Americans for Prosperity Foundation (AFP), founded and chaired by David H. Koch, received over $5.7 million from Koch foundations since 2005. AFP is known for its "Hot Air Tour" and “Regulation Reality Tour” campaigns that spreads misinformation about climate science and policy.

Multiple Koch-funded organizations have repeatedly rebroadcasted the November 2009 story dubbed "ClimateGate," referring to stolen personal emails of climate experts. These organizations claim the emails prove a "conspiracy" of scientists and casts doubt on the scientific consensus regarding climate change.

In 2007, several prominent climate denial scientists published a non-peer reviewed article, funded by a Koch foundation, that concluded polar bears were not threatened by global warming. Multiple Koch-funded groups reiterated the article's conclusions through their websites and other media outlets.

More about Koch Industries

Want to learn more about tax-deductible giving, donating stock and estate planning? Visit Greenpeace Fund, a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) charitable entity created to increase public awareness and understanding of environmental issues through research, the media and educational programs.